Matchstick Theatre presented Kat Sandler’s Punch Up as a co-production with Hello City Improv at the Bus Stop Theatre from December 8th-18th, 2022.

What happens when the most pathetic man ever kidnaps the funniest man alive to make the saddest girl in the world laugh? Duncan is trying to make Brenda laugh so that she will reconsider taking her own life. There is only one problem: Duncan is not funny. The solution? He kidnaps funnyman Pat to help him write the perfect stand-up routine. Punch Up shows just how far we will go for a laugh, the hilarity found within despair, and the profound healing power of comedy.

Poster Design by Sean Skerry (Skerrcraft Creative)
Photography by Stoo Metz (Stoo Metz Photography)

Accompanying each performance of Punch Up were an opening roster of local stand-up comedians: Travis Lindsay, Trina James, Luba Magnus, Gil Anderson, Colin McGuire, Clare Belford, and Adam Myatt

The first in Matchstick’s annual fundraiser series ‘Matchstick Covers…’ was a 90’s throwback night where we covered Alanis Morissette’s smash hit album Jagged Little Pill front to back, featuring a guest lineup of some of our favourite Halifax singers!

Held on Thursday, August 18th at the Marquee Ballroom. Ticket sales and donations from the concert went towards Matchstick and Hello City’s production of Punch Up.

Featuring performances from:
Deves Matwawana, Elle Tomie, Jade Bennett, Jessie Brown, Kamilah Apong, Kat McCormack, Keats Conlon, Peter Sarty & Stevey Hunter, Rachael Delano, Stewart Legere, Tara Thorne

And all tracks played by our backing band:
Guitar – Dylan Wallace, Guitar – Nick Leslie, Bass – Alex Mills, Drums – Matt Schofield

Poster Design by Sean Skerry (Skerrcraft Creative)
Photography by Stoo Metz (Stoo Metz Photo)